Being a Vocal Consumer is Good for Everyone

I'm not one to sit quietly if I feel I've been wronged, especially when it comes to a purchase I've made.

I've complained about tabs coming off diapers, Miracle Whip jars that won't open, and straws missing from juice boxes.

My latest phone calls involved toys, and I got terrific responses. The Busy Basics Busy Ball Choo-Choo quit working (even with fresh batteries) just three months after we got it, and a Hot Wheels car we got for a potty-training prize, had a bad wheel. Playskool's response: They shipped out a BRAND-NEW Busy Ball Choo-Choo, no questions asked. Hot Wheels gave me the choice of receiving a replacement car or a coupon for the purchase of another one. (I picked the latter.)

Some might say that I'm just a complainer, but that's not true. The thing is, I think it's important to be a vocal consumer. If we don't say something about toys that break right away, companies will continue to cut corners and make inferior products. If we don't say something about products that are missing tabs or taste terrible, how will those businesses know there is a problem?

Businesses WANT to know what the problems are with their products and most of them want a chance to make it right. Happy customers = repeat customers. Happy customers who like to talk about their good experiences with a company = more customers.

When you voice your concerns with a product, you are improving the quality of that product for everyone. Praise for a product has the same effect. Companies want to hear what they're doing right, too!

So don't be afraid to say something. Find the number or e-mail of the company and contact them. Be sure to give them as much detail as possible and be prepared to give lot numbers or UPC codes.

It will help us all get better quality goods for our hard-earned money.